Support Us

Powell House is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. All contributions are tax deductible.

If you have any questions about your contributions, please contact Regina Haag, Executive Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 518-794-8811 x11.

As you know, Powell House is only partially funded by New York Yearly Meeting's budget. The rest of its operating funds comes from guest fees and donations gathered from semiannual appeals. Such efforts take time and energy from our principal activities: developing new and better spiritual programs for adults and youth.

One of the most effective--and least taxing--ways to accomplish that goal is to develop planning giving programs, such as the ones outlined here. Such donation plans provide Friends a way to support Quaker activities while at the same time minimizing their tax obligations. And, fortuitously, by cutting back on taxes, less money will flow to military spending.

One of the advantages of planned giving is that you can rest assured your gifts will fund programs you support, with no chance of legal or estate complications interfering with your aims.

And, as you know, the grace of being a benefactor is one of the richest gifts of giving.

Are you interested in reducing your federal tax liability, eliminating the time and expense of probate, providing retirement income for yourself or a loved one, or supporting Powell House's spiritual enrichment programs?

Outlined below are a number of ways you can support Powell House while saving on your taxes. How you contribute will determine the tax impact of your gift. Of course, you should consult with your financial adviser, lawyer or accountant for recommendations on which plan is best for you.

If you have property--such as stock or real estate--that has gone up in value over the years, giving it to Powell House could benefit both you and Powell House.

For example, say you are in the combined 35% tax bracket (28% federal and 7% state), and you sell the appreciated stock, realizing a $10,000 gain. Your tax liability would be about $3,500. But if you were to give the stock to Powell House (or if you sell the stock and give the $10,000 proceeds), you would owe no taxes. For those who would be affected by the Alternative Minimum Tax, there's good news--thanks to a recent tax law change, such a strategy would not even trigger the tax.

A gift of at least $5,000 to Powell House can be converted into an annuity that guarantees you or a loved one a lifetime income. In addition to a tax deduction for the gift, subsequent annuity income is mostly tax exempt. The annual income from the annuity is quite competitive, sometimes surpassing the rates of commercial annuities. Upon the death of the last beneficiary, the assets would go to Powell House.

This plan is similar to the regular gift annuity--a guaranteed income for life--except the payments start at least one year after the gift is made. As a result, because of the delay, once the payments begin they are larger because the recipient is older (the formula is based on age) and interest on the gift has been compounding tax-free. Many donors use this approach as part of their retirement planning.

This kind of trust enables you to make a gift (minimum $50,000) to Powell House and receive fixed lifetime quarterly or semiannual payments, the size of which re negotiated when the gift agreement is made. Not only does the initial gift result in a tax deduction, but you also avoid capital gains and estate taxes and the funds grow tax-free and the payments are (may be) tax exempt.

Whatever is left in the trust after the death of the last beneficiary is distributed to Powell House.

A unitrust is similar to the charitable remainder trust with one exception: Since the trust is revalued each year, the payments to your or your beneficiaries will vary. Typically, since the capital is invested and grows tax-free, it's possible to receive a smaller amount in the early years of the trust and larger amounts in future years.

It's possible to donate real estate to Powell House, too. It could be your home, unused land, rental property, or a farm. There are a number of strategies for such donations:

Bequest: this kind of gift is made through your will. Upon the transfer of ownership, Powell House will sell the property, relieving your heirs of the burden.

Retained Life Estate Plan: Under this plan, you can deed the property to Powell House, but retain the right to live there or use it for the rest of your (or your spouse's) life. The advantage of this plan over a bequest is that you get an immediate charitable deduction and an opportunity to reduce estate taxes.

Retained Life Estate Plan Plus Annuity: If the deductions under the Retained Life Estate Plan are not useful to you (for example, if you are not in a high tax bracket), you can use the deduction amount to fund an annuity administered by Powell House. In effect, you are "selling" the deduction amount to Powell House in return for a lifetime annuity income.

Unitrust: If you have property that does not generate income, Powell House can sell it and convert the proceeds to a Unitrust (see Charitable Remainder Unitrust). This is an effective way to turn the property into an income-producing asset without paying capital gains tax while benefiting Powell House.

A well-executed will is one of the simplest and most effective ways to direct part of your estate to Powell House. A bequest can be restricted to a specific program or used where Powell House feels it is most needed. It can fund an annuity for a loved one or establish a memorial trust. You can rest assured, Powell House will honor your bequest as closely as possible.

Your donation helps to provide funds for scholarships and operating expenses. On PayPal you can use your credit card or your PayPal account, you also have the options to make a one time donation or a recurring, weekly, monthly or annual donation to Powell House. Thank you for your support!!!

(Please note that the processing company who sends us the payment will take about 3% of the total. If you increase the amount by that percent, Powell House will get the net amount that you wish us to have.)